Best Headphones For Oculus Rift S, Quest and Go In 2022 (For Real Gamers)
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Oculus is promising more immersive VR experiences with the latest Rift S, Quest and Go headsets. While visuals from the headset are impressively realistic, you may long for a decent headphone to truly lose yourself in the VR world.
Having the right headphone allows you to dive deep into games like Beat Saber and Vader Immortal as you’re able to experience the sound in a more confined manner. But choosing the right headphone for Oculus Rift S, Quest and Go can be tricky as they may not share similar constructs and audio specs.
Top Headphones For Oculus Compared
Choosing A Headphone For Oculus Rift S
The Oculus Rift S does have a speaker built into the headset. While it offers a decent audio experience, you’ll find that it lacks a deeper bass in certain games. It doesn’t hurt to bring in a better headphone to pair with Rift S.
Oculus does provide support for using an external headphone. You’ll find a 3.5 mm audio jack on the Rift S headset where you can connect a wired headphone to it. If you’re bothered by the headphone cord dangling on the headset, you can opt for a wireless headphone.
Pairing a Bluetooth headphone to your PC will allow the in-game audio to be channeled through it. However, you’ll need to disable the Rift S audio via the Device Manager or decreasing the volume to zero on the app. Else, it will be a weird experience of having the built-in speaker projecting sound on top of the headphone.
Best Headphones For Oculus Rift S
1. Koss Porta Pro On-Ear Headphone
Key Features
- Wired On-Ear
- Foldable
- 4 ft cord.
The Koss Porta Pro is the ideal headphone that compensates the lack of bass on the Oculus Rift S speakers. It’s solid and deep bass quality is generated by a pair of oxygen-free copper coils on its drivers. With a frequency range of 15 – 25,000 Hz, you can expect clarity on sounds at both ends of the human’s hearing spectrum.
While the Koss Porta Pro is heavy on the bass, it has a lightweight and portable built. The headphone features adjustable temporal pads to ensure maximum comfort when you put it on. The collapsible structure of the headphone means you can easily store it away in a carrying case and bring it around.
You won’t find any volume control on the headphone as it’s built without one. You’ll need to adjust the volume from the computer when using this headphone on Rift S. It’s also a considerably affordable headphone and you’ll get a lifetime warranty with it.
2. CCA C10 In Ear Monitors
Key Features
- 10 drivers hybrid technology.
- 1.2 m detachable cables.
- 7 – 40,000 Hz.
The CCA 10 IEM ensures a game-changing experience, according to some Redditors. There are sound logics why this versatile IEM is preferable instead of bulky headsets. Some headsets may give you the best sound experience, but they are a bad fit for the Rift S.
With the CCA 10, you won’t have problems with a headphone struggling to fit over the Rift S. You’ll enjoy an immersive VR experience with the top-notch sound quality from the IEM. The audio is balanced from the deeper lows to the highs. It also gives you the needed soundstage comparable to a soundstage headphone.
The IEM has great passive noise isolation. It keeps you focused on the virtual world and blocks surrounding distraction. When you’re done gaming, you can store the IEM easily. The cables are detachable and can be carried around with ease.
3. Hyper X Cloud II Gaming Headset
Key Features
- 53 mm Neodymium drivers
- Detachable microphone
- 15 Hz- 25 kHz frequency response
If you’re gaming both on the Oculus Rift S and PC, the Hyper X Cloud II is an ideal pick for a headphone. While the earpads housing the 53mm Neodymium drivers may look overwhelmingly large, the headphone fits perfectly even after donning the Rift S headset.
You can expect the right audio quality for gaming experience as it’s specifically built for gamers. With a frequency response of 15 – 25,000 Hz, the drivers will have no issue producing the deep bass that you’re longing for. You’ll also find the USB audio sound card useful in enhancing the sound quality when connecting to a PC.
Comfort-wise, the Hyper X Cloud II has plenty to offer. The memory-foam ear pads ensure that you won’t feel uncomfortable even if you’ve chalked up double digits of gaming hours. Also, the design of the earpads means you’ll experience natural noise-isolation that allows you to get immersed in VR.
4. Skullcandy Ink’D Earbuds
Key Features
- Active Noise Canceling
- Bluetooth Over-ear
- 30 hrs of playtime.
Putting on a headphone over the Rift S can be uncomfortable for some people. In such cases, you’ll want to opt for wired earbuds like the Skullcandy Ink’D. Getting the Skullcandy earbuds is an economically-sound decision as it only costs a fraction of the Rift S headset.
But being a budget-friendly headphone alternative doesn’t mean that it’s lacking in the audio department. The Skullcandy Ink’D is known for its powerful bass and decent audio range across the frequencies. It’s good enough to compensate for the speaker on Rift S.
Thanks to its flat-cable design, you won’t run into issues of tangled-cable when using the earbuds while gaming. This pair of earbuds tend to be highly sensitive, and you’ll need to bring down the volume when using it on the Rift S.
Choosing A Headphone For Oculus Go
The Oculus Quest is a VR headset that removes the need for an all-powerful gaming PC. Everything that is needed to generate the realistic VR world is built into the headset. Like the Rift S, the Oculus Go has a built-in speaker that’s intended to produce realistic 3D sound quality.
Meant for casual gaming, the audio produced by Oculus Go is reasonably decent in terms of creating spatial awareness. But if you’re accustomed to wearing headphones, you’ll find a 3.5mm audio jack built into the unit.
Bluetooth headphones wouldn’t work on Oculus Go unless you’re willing to use an additional Bluetooth transmitter with a 3.5 mm jack. The quickest way to use the headset with a headphone is to choose a wired one.
Best Headphones For Oculus Go
1. Midwec Short Cable Earphones
Key Features
- Short cable earphones.
- Customized for Oculus Go.
- Budget-friendly.
When you’re using regular wired earphones on the Oculus Go, you’ll need to roll up the additional cable length on you’ll have the cord dangling on your shoulder. This Midwec earphone is designed to solve the problem for Oculus Go users.
The cord that connects to the earphone to the audio jack is just right when connected to the audio port. Considering that this is a budget headphone, you’ll be expecting an inferior sound quality. However, the Midwec earphones prove worthy amongst competitors within the price range.
You can expect good quality audio when using the earphone for VR games. The sound is clear and crisp even when the Oculus Go is not tuned to the loudest volume. This will fit most individuals unless you have an unusually large head.
2. Betron BS10 Earphones
Key Features
- 12mm neodymium drivers.
- Ergonomic ear tips.
- Deep bass performance.
Betron is known to make some of the best sounding headphones around. This Betron BS10 is a lightweight headphone that goes well with the Oculus Go. Sound quality is exceptional and the key feature of this earphone lies in its deep-sounding bass.
Nestled in the ergonomic ear-tips are 12 mm, neodymium drivers. These drivers produce rich sounding tones that go from 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz. The comfort of wearing the BS10 earphones lies in the earbuds. Thankfully, Betron ships some spare earbuds along with the earphone.
You’ll find that the earbuds vary in size, which means you can find the perfect fit to ensure the earphone fit securely when gaming. There’s also a carrying case that will be handy if you’re traveling with your Oculus Go and the BS10.
3. Panasonic ErgoFit Earbuds
Key Features
- 10 to 24,000 Hz.
- 16 Ohms impedance.
- 3.6 ft cord.
The Panasonic RP-HJE125 earbud is another solution to bypass the built-in speaker of Oculus Go. This is a basic and affordable earbud that will be mild on your budget after splurging on the VR headset.
However, being economical doesn’t mean it’s lacking in the sound department. The earbud is built around 9 mm drivers that will have a problem producing audio between 10 to 24,000 Hz. You’ll get enough bass and treble from the earphone when fitted correctly.
To get the best of these earbuds, you’ll need to pick the right pads that come along with it. The earbud must be fit tightly into your ear canal to experience the full range of the audio spectrum. It also helps the earbud to stay in place as you’re navigating the VR world with the Oculus Go.
4. SteelSeries Arctis 3
Key Features
- Detachable cord.
- Low distortion S1 speaker drivers.
- Ergonomic AirWeave ear cushions.
Using a full-fledged gaming headset on an Oculus Go can be tricky, as some have troubles fitting in. The SteelSeries Arctis 3 is one that goes well with the VR headset without having any awkward issues.
It’s fair to say that the Arctis 3 is a perfect match for Oculus Go, as it’s designed to deliver an immersive experience on VR platforms. The headphone is engineered with S1 speaker drivers, which produces low distortion audio across 20 Hz to 20 kHz. A volume control dial is placed at the side of the earphone, allowing you to tweak the loudness with ease.
You won’t run into any discomfort when using the Arctis 3 for long periods. Its earcups are padded with the unique AirWeave cushions which feel soft on the ear. Also, the headband is designed to evenly spread out the pressure of the headphone, which means you’ll barely feel any pressure on your ears.
Choosing A Headphone For Oculus Quest
The Oculus Quest shares the concept of an all-in-one VR headset with the Oculus Go, but that’s where the similarity ends. Oculus Quest offers a more immersive experience as it’s paired with a couple of motion controllers.
Using the Oculus Quest enables you to take advantage of the 6DOF tracking, making the VR experience more realistic. Its audio delivery system is inherited from Oculus Go, which means you’ll have the built-in speaker projecting spatial sound.
The Oculus Quest’s audio is pretty decent but you can get better sound quality and an immersive experience with the right headphone. Wired headphones seem to be the answer to enhance the sound quality of Oculus Quest as getting Bluetooth headphones to work requires complicated steps.
Unlike the Oculus Go, the Quest has two 3.5 mm audio ports at both sides of the headset. If you’re using a stereo headphones, you can plug them into any of the ports. Alternatively, you can get separate single-channel earphones and plug each channel to its respective port.
If you’re looking for headphones for Oculus Quest 2, check out this guide.
Best Headphones For Oculus Quest
1. Oculus Quest In-Ear Headphones
Key Features
- Designed and sold by Oculus.
- Flexible ear tips.
- Separate headphones with 3.5 mm plugs
Oculus Quest users have been anticipating this pair of in-ear headphones by the manufacturer of the headset itself. It’s designed to specifically fit the VR headset. Both headphones are separated and labeled with R and L. Each is then connected to the two audio ports on the headset.
As expected of Oculus, the sound quality is decent on the headphone. It’ll have no problem with delivering punchy bass while doing a great job with the middle and treble range. The ergonomics of the headphone is well taken care of as you’ll feel comfortable with putting the ear tips into your ear.
The only complaint is that the price is on the high side, given that this is after all a couple of earbuds with individual channel output.
2. SpectraShell OQ9 Earbuds
Key Features
- 9mm dynamic drivers
- Ultraflex silicone wire
- Great bass performance.
The SpectraShell OQ9 is another unique earbuds engineered specifically for the unique audio setup of Oculus Quest. It is, in fact, two individual earbuds wired to an individual channel of L and R respectively.
Both earbuds are built around 9 mm dynamic drivers that deliver solid, punchy bass and excelling in the higher range of the audio. Oculus Quest gamers can easily plug these earbuds to the respective audio jacks on the headset.
With just the right cable length, you’ll find the earbuds don’t leave dangling wires on your shoulders. Also, the Ultraflex silicone wire looks stylish alongside the Quest headset. The SpectraShell will put an end to the frustrations of accidentally yanking off a regular earbud that you’ve been using.
3. Sony MDR-EX15LP In Ear Earbuds
Key Features
- 9 mm drivers
- Silicone earbuds.
- Tangle-resistant cord.
An equally elegant solution for extending the Oculus Quest audio is the Sony MDR-EX15LP earbud. At the core of the earbud is a couple of 9 mm neodymium drivers that produce powerful high-quality bass. The sound quality of the earbud is further enhanced by the tightly-sealed acoustic design.
You can plug the Sony earbud on either side of the Oculus Quest’s audio jack. There’s little risk of the cord getting tangled as it’s built to be tangle-resistance. The ear tips, which is made of hybrid silicone, ensures that you’ll feel comfortable when wearing the earbud.
While it’s not comparable to high-end gaming headsets, the Sony MDR-EX15LP earbud offers above-average quality for the price it commands.
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4. OneOdio Adapter Free DJ Headphone
Key Features
- 50 mm drivers.
- Swiveling earcups
- Detachable spring cables.
Similar to the Oculus Quest, this OneOdio headphone has two 3.5mm audio plugs at the bottom of the earcups. Each audio plug supports is a stereo channel, which means you can connect either plug to the Oculus Quest and get balanced audio on both ears.
The OneOdio headphone is known to emit powerful bass and crystal clear tones, thanks to its large 50 mm neodymium drivers. The hi-fi sound will leave you more than satisfied when gaming on the VR headset.
Besides the superior sound quality, the headphone ticks all the right checkboxes for comfort. The padded earcup is mild on the ear and the swivel allows you to adjust the headphone to the optimal position. When not in use, the headphone can be folded for easy storage.
Unlike most headphones, this OdioOne is connected with a removable cord. It’s shipped with two different cords that are over a meter in length. You can also buy shorter audio cords to connect the headphone to the Oculus Quest headset.
Summary
Whatever your reason it is to invest in a separate headphone for your Oculus headset, choosing one requires much deliberation. It’s a mistake to assume that what works for Oculus Rift S will naturally work for the Quest and Go headset.
Wireless and wired will work fine for the Rift S but Quest and Go have difficulty in supporting Bluetooth headphones. It’s hard to predict if future VR headsets will support wireless headphones, but I’ll stick with wired ones at this moment.
Ultimately, I hope that you’ve found this guide useful in choosing a headphone or earphone that works respectively with the Oculus device.
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About Author
Kenny Lee
An electronics engineer of 10 years turned copywriter. Headphones have been my best companion whether it's coding or writing. It's as much about blocking off distractions and tuning in to great music. Also a passionate pianist.